Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) – “With hope towards God” is the title of the post-synodal letter issued recently by Archbishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, of Seoul at the end of a four year diocesan synod. In the letter the Archbishop reminds Catholics of the great evangelising mission of the Church in Korea and he says that the archdiocese of Seoul is entering the new era in which it is called to render present the message of Christ in the history of the third millennium.
The Archbishop listed seven concrete challenges for the community: the role of the laity; religious; clergy; youth; mission; formation in the faith; administration of Church goods; evangelisation.
“During the years of the Synod clergy, religious and laity met to discuss the future of the archdiocese. These years have been a precious time during which we experienced God’s grace working in our community” the Archbishop said in his homily for the closing Mass of the Synod, adding “we strive to build a Church of active participation based on the Word of God in which every person has his or her own specific role”. The Archbishop announced that he will continue to visit parishes to listen to the people, pray with them and help everyone.
Also present at the Mass, celebrated in Seoul Cathedral, Cardinal Kim and the auxiliary Bishops of Seoul, while Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, sent a message for the occasion, thanking the local Church for its efforts and encouraging ever greater evangelising work in mission.
Leaders of other religions attended the Mass as a sign of dialogue and desire to collaborate with the Church in Korea. PA (Fides Service 6/10/2003 EM lines 29 Words: 289)
